Narrative Theory - Todorov

Narrative

There are five stages:

1. Equilibrium – the setting is established, key character(s) are introduced and

the storyline has begun to be set up.

2. This is then followed by a disruption whereby an oppositional character(s)

appear and the story takes a particular direction

3. Then there is recognition of disruption, in that the lives of characters and

events are interwoven. Tension builds throughout this section, which is often

the longest.

4. An attempt to repair the disruption is at the highest point of tension within

the film after which there is a change in the dynamic.

5. Finally, there is a re-instatement of equilibrium where matters are sorted

out, problems are solved and questions are answered. The equilibrium can be

described as new as the story has been resolved but the events have

possibly changed people.

Task 1:

Create a word document Todorov Persil_(name) and apply Todorov's theory to this poster.

Copy and past this to your doc.

1. Equilibrium – 

2. Disruption -

3. Recognition of disruption -

4. Attempt to repair the disruption -

5. New equilibrium -

Task 2:

Create a word document Todorov Taken_(name) and apply Todorov's theory to this clip.

Characters

Propp's Character Functions

Propp concluded that all characters could be resolved into 7 broad character functions in the 100 tales he analyzed:

1. The villain — struggles against the hero.
2. The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
3. The (magical) helper — helps the hero in their quest.
4. The princess or prize and her father — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. The hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.
5. The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
6. The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
7. False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.
8. Father of the Princess. Rewards the hero! He is part of the family that the Princess belongs to.

Vladimir Propp's and Tzvetan Todorov’s Narrative Theory 

Task 3:

Create a word document Propp_Shrek(name) and apply Propp's theory to this clip.

Task 4:
Create a word document GCSE_Production(name) and List Proppian characters and or Todorov's equilibrium theory to your own production

This is Homework for the half term.
Non production of this on 2.6.14 will be rewarded with detention. So do it now.

Much of the humour in Shrek comes from the way the film subverts fairytale conventions. 
Yet it can be seen to adhere to the conventions of narrative in order to satisfy the audience, who still love a classic structure within film narratives.

1) The hero is Shrek who needs to solve the crime of why the fairytale creatures are illegally camping outside of his swamp
2)The villain is Lord Farquaad who sent the fairytale creatures to Shrek's swamp. He sends Shrek to rescue his princess from the castle and as a reward, he will give Shrek his swamp exactly how it was.
3)The princess is Princess Fiona and she is saved by Shrek from the castle, who she believes is her prince for saving her, but he tells her that Lord Farquaad will be her prince. She finds out that Shrek is an ogre.
4)The helper is Donkey who accompanies Shrek throughout the journey to rescue the princess
5)The donor is a magical dragon who helps stops the wedding of Lord Farquaad and Fiona when Shrek realises he loves her, and finds out that she is an ogre too.
6)The False hero is Lord Farquaad because he earned the princess even though he had to get Shrek to complete the mission to save her from the castle,  however Shrek and Fiona end up in love.